Halloween!

Well, I'm just embarrassed. It's been almost a year since I've blogged.
I'd like to say I'm back by popular demand. But really the only one demanding is my conscience.
I was on here the other day looking for something specific from a couple of years ago, and I was so surprised at the little details of our life I'd blogged about that I'd already completely forgotten.
From 2010.
I was a little concerned. Because I just love my life. My kids' cuteness just blows me away. I look at each one of them and I can't believe how big they are getting. And I don't want to forget the cute things they are doing right now.
 A while ago I was talking to Jami and I said that Hadley was at the "cutest age right now." And she said "Shelli you say that about all your kids at every age." I took it as a compliment, and I want to remember why I always thought that.

So here's my vow.

I promise to inconvenience myself regularly (maybe I could just half listen to Big Bang Theory from the kitchen? maybe less Pinterest! Seriously, could someone invent a timer on that site, that would say "you've now wasted 30% of the projected naptime for today" or something?) in order to document for posterity the awesome time I'm having being a mom and a wife here in the Gem State.

Ok. Moving on.

Can I just say, I stinkin' LOVED our Harry Potter theme this year!
Kennedy read the first 3 books this year and I read all 7. I was so surprised at how much I loved them. That's some serious good Vs. evil right there.
Hudson has been obsessed with playing Harry Potter since he saw the first movie this summer, (we're just a decade or so behind the times, is all!) so this was a natural pick.



Harry and Hermoine

Hooo!

 It was Kennedy's idea for Hadley to be Harry's pet owl, Hedwig. Luckily owls are super popular right now, so Pinterest was just crawling with ideas for her costume. See, not a complete waste of time...

The two littlest monkeys right after Hudson's class party. Does she love her brother or what?

 

 Getting ready for Trunk Or Treat...

 

 

I broke out the good ole witch hat for Hudson's party, and rocked it the rest of the day. We decided I was Harry's mom, since she was a witch, and Dustin was Hermoine's dad, since he was a muggle (non-magical person). Ha!

Hadley got the hang of it pretty quick...

On Monday night, we decided we would paint pumpkins instead of carving this year.
Best idea ever.
The kids just loved it! Even with Hadley and paint, still less mess.

 

 

Hadley was pretty proud of her work! "Ta-Da"she says!

 

Hadley's 

Hudson's creation 

Kennedy's cute witch's hat 

Finally.

Now, I know that there have been birthdays, reunions, sporting events, etcetera, that have been totally worth blogging about. But something happened Sunday that I can't help but share with the world my happiness over.

Hadley went to nursery.

And she loved it. Halleluja! And no, she didn't get the 2 bruises on her forehead, the scuffed up nose, and the shiner there. That's just everyday stuff around here. She's figured out how to climb stuff. I love this age, she is the funniest, cutest little thing ever, but I really hope she makes it to her next birthday. She is already my little daredevil!

Happy Birthday Hadley Jo!

Remember this?



One year ago today.



Then there was this.



And this...







And it just got better...

And better.

And better still.

And then we got to put this shirt on today!

Happy Birthday to my baby girl!

Mothers Day

I had a great Mother's Day!

Dustin got called in to work in the pre-dawn hours, so getting us all to church, and being at church by myself was not the ideal start to the day, but he was home in time to take a picture of me and the kiddos, so it worked out... :)

We had talked about taking a picnic up to Mesa Falls, but it was raining so we went on the scenic drive anyway and picnicked in the car. A few of my favorite things: TV in the car, baby wipes, and no-spill drinks for the kids.

I was sad not to see either of our moms, but I hope they had great days as well. Love to all the moms who make my life easier!

Hadley's new tricks...

I can't believe how fast she is growing! She is getting so active, she's totally wearing usout...Even when she is in my arms it's exhausting, what with all her turning every which way to see the action, lunging to get to something she can see that she wants, and letting her walk the fine line between playing with my jewelry and ripping it off...Phew! Between the army crawling and rolling, she isn't in the same place for long on the floor either. I love how excited she is to learn new things, and show them off, but I kinda miss my newborn...

Remember?

{Nevermind. I just remembered how tired I was. But I am thankful for pictures. Just looking at this, I can hear the little grunt-y noises she made. Aww.}

The day that you can pinch...

AKA St. Patrick's Day. That's what Hudson asked me this morning, when he was eating his Lucky Charms. "It's not the day that you can pinch anymore, is it Mom." Really. Boys are a whole other animal. He didn't even pinch anyone, that I'm aware of. He told me his whole pre-school class had on green. I guess just knowing that pinching might be permissible for a day...even encouraged...was intriguing to him. :)

We woke up to discover the leprechauns visited us again...

Those little mischief makers.

I love how the pranks they pull are just funny, and not really a lot of work to clean up. Plus they leave chocolate coins behind. I love leprechauns.

And here is my favorite tiny person in green. She likes the gold, too.

After school we made the cutest rainbow cake. I saw a picture of it in a magazine a while ago, and I thought the kids would dig it, because we love M&Ms.

My sweeties. Hudson is starting to think funny faces for every picture is cool.

Sigh.

It was so fun! They loved sorting the colors, and making the rows for the rainbow.

(Hadley lost her bumbo privileges right after this picture because she was leaning so far over the sides, going for candies, she almost fell out. Cheerios don't cut it when she can see chocolate. She is definitely my kid.)

Kennedy made a cute little path at the bottom and we added pots of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Perfect dessert for our green dinner: spinach pesto tortellini, broccoli, green salad (with green goddess dressing) and limeade. Kennedy had dance in Idaho Falls, so Dustin was sweet enough to have it on the table for us when we got home.

Silly Hudson. If these are the faces before dinner, imagine after a slice of that cake.

Bouncing off the walls doesn't even come close.

I love holidays.

:)

Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's day! Pink and red clothes, chocolates, heart shaped everything, and another opportunity to give presents! Instead of going on a date, Dustin and I usually spend the night with the kids and it's my favorite.

{a new joy this year: matching pink and red for my pretty girls!}

Dustin stopped in with roses and chocolates for me, and a rose for Kennedy, in the middle of the morning. It was a lovely surprise. I love my guy, and that he makes both of us girls feel so special...Hadley, when you won't eat your rose, I'm sure you'll get one too.

This year for our fancy dinner we got a heart-shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's. It felt just a little too easy to me, but the kids loved it.

And for dessert - what is better than Valentine sugar cookies?

A huge Valentine sugar cookie that has your name all over it. Literally.

One of my favorite Valentines day when I was a kid, my mom made my brothers, sister and I huge, personalized, heart sugar cookies. I decided to try to surprise Dustin and the monkey's with their own this year. I think they turned out so cute, I was so proud of myself that the writing turned out.

No professional training whatsoever. :)

Hadley is definitely my kid. She loved having bites of hers.

(don't worry, she shared with mom...)

I love these guys. They are so easy to please!

And pretty cute, too.